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European Instructional Lectures pp 75–86Cite as

Infections of the Spine

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Part of the book series: European Instructional Lectures ((EICL,volume 12))

Abstract

Spondylodiscitis, tuberculosis and peri-operative infections are different sub-groups of the same problem that require specific attention. There are patient-related and case- specific risk factors for a spine infection that although well-documented and significant are unfortunately not generally recognized. In each pathological presentation of the disease the relevance of aetiology, epidemiology, diagnostic tools, as well as treatment modalities has to be well-established clarifying the existing differences between them. The costs of treatment and its failure have to be evaluated considering that we simply need to keep treating our patients. We must emphasise that a spinal infection is usually a treatable condition depending on the patient’s immunological defences, the aggressiveness of the infecting agent, elapsed time to diagnosis, or the efficacy of the chosen treatment.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic, FCM-Lisbon New University, Lisbon, Portugal

    José Guimarães Consciência M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Orthopaedic, S. Joad Hospital, Oporto, Portugal

    Rui Pinto M.D.

  3. Department of Imagiology, Ecasroniz-Chlo Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal

    T. Saldanha M.D.

Authors
  1. José Guimarães Consciência M.D., Ph.D.
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  2. Rui Pinto M.D.
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  3. T. Saldanha M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Guimarães Consciência M.D., Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Trus, Brockley Hill, Stanmore, HA 7 4LP, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    George Bentley

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© 2012 EFORT

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Consciência, J.G., Pinto, R., Saldanha, T. (2012). Infections of the Spine. In: Bentley, G. (eds) European Instructional Lectures. European Instructional Lectures, vol 12. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27293-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27293-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-27292-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27293-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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